Tracking-Only Programs Overview

Three evaluations were planned to be restricted to tracking and reporting only, without

independent evaluation of energy savings. Savings were expected to be very small or possibly nonexistent by the end of 2008, not justifying even verification-guided evaluations. The goal of the evaluation of these programs was simply to follow the progress of the programs in achieving their program goals, if any, and to provide a high-level explanation of the issues behind the tracking results. The first two of these evaluations addressed SCE’s and SDG&E’s Sustainable Communities programs, which worked with developers, architects, engineers, and others to incorporate sustainable design practices into both residential and commercial developments. The third, Automatic Energy Review for Schools (AERS) (formerly known as the Modernization and New Construction Efficiency Enhancement for Schools Program in the IDEEA/InDEE project), sought to identify potential energy-saving design modification opportunities in public schools and intervene during a time in the process when changes to building project drawings normally occur. The fourth evaluation addressed SCE’s Demand Response Emerging

Technologies program, which is a pilot program providing incentives to builders to install emerging energy efficient technologies in newly constructed homes.

A fifth program, SCE’s Transforming the Market for ENERGY STAR Manufactured (Mobile) Homes (IDEEA/InDEE) program, originally planned as a verification-guided evaluation, was added to this group due to its lack of program accomplishments. This program provides incentives to encourage increased efficiency in new manufactured homes.

2.2

Description of Programs Included in this Evaluation

2.2.1

Residential New Construction Program Descriptions

Although PG&E, SCE, SCG, and SDG&E all offered energy efficiency incentives for residential new construction, the scope and focus of the Programs vary between the IOUs. PG&E’s program focuses primarily on single-family buildings because multifamily new construction efforts were organized under a separate program, PG&E 2059, which is implemented by a third party, HMG. We discuss PG&E’s multifamily program with the other verification-guided

evaluations. SCE also has third party implementers (ICF and HMG) for their single-family and multifamily components, but both components are included in SCE 2505. SCG and SDG&E are implementing both the single-family and multifamily portions of their programs themselves. While all of the programs include a whole house goal and incentive, the number and type of

prescriptive measure rebated by each IOU vary. The following illustrates some of the key similarities and differences between the Programs in this evaluation cluster.

The programs evaluated in the RNC evaluation cluster are listed in Table 2 1 with program descriptions10

10 _{Whole house measures may also be referred to as performance-based measures. For this report, we}

Table 2-1: RNC Program Descriptions Full Impact Evaluation Group Programs Included in

this Evaluation

Program Description

Key Program Elements SCG 3502 Advanced

Home Program

• Promotes a comprehensive residential new construction approach with a focus on sustainable design and construction and energy efficiency;

• Uses a combination of education, design assistance and financial support to work with building and related industries;

• Includes single family, single family attached (town homes), and low-rise multifamily (3 or fewer stories) residences.

There are three whole-house approaches to participation:

1) California Energy Star New Homes Program. Home must meet the Energy Star criteria.

2) High-rise multi-family program, increasing overall energy efficiency by 15% or more compared to Title 24.

3) High-performing new homes program. Tier 1 must be at least 15% better than Title 24 as detailed in compliance models; Tier 2 must be 35% better. Due to the high volume of measures being rebated the program was temporarily shut down and then re-opened, offering only whole-house incentives for buildings exceeding the Standards by 15%.

SDGE 3007 Advanced Home Program

• Promotes a comprehensive residential new construction approach with a focus on sustainable design and construction and energy efficiency;

• Uses a combination of education, design assistance and financial support to work with building and related industries.

There are three whole-house approaches to participation:

1) California Energy Star New Homes Program. Home must meet the Energy Star criteria.

2) High-rise multi-family program, increasing overall energy efficiency by 15% or more compared to Title 24.

3) High-performing new homes program. Tier 1 must be at least 15% better than Title 24 as detailed in compliance models; Tier 2 must be 35% better. SCE 2505 CA New

Homes Program

• Awards a limited number of financial incentives to homebuilders who construct homes (single or multifamily) that exceed California's energy efficiency standards for new residential construction (Title 24);

• Provides training opportunities, technical support and marketing

1) Offers incentives for homes built 15% above the Standards.

2) Offers an additional whole-house incentive to homes built 20% or 35% (single-family only) above the Standards in their inland region (T24 CZ 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 16).

3) Offers a selection of prescriptive incentives for various energy efficiency measures, including appliances and lighting.

Table 2-1: RNC Program Descriptions Full Impact Evaluation Group Programs Included in

this Evaluation

Program Description

Key Program Elements resources that will help homebuilders to

build more energy efficient homes.

The program is implemented by two subcontractors, ICF and HMG. (HMG is also implementing SCE’s Affordable Housing Program (SCE 2542, which is co- sponsored by SCG 3537) and Designed for Comfort (SCE 2543))

PGE 2009 Residential New Construction Program

Builders of single-family homes within PG&E's service area can apply for financial incentives for maximizing the energy efficiency of their new homes. Energy efficient features may be individually added to homes through the Prescriptive Option, or builders can upgrade to the California ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program by meeting the specifications of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

1) Includes whole-house incentives for houses built 15% above the 2005 Title 24 Standards that qualify as Energy Star new homes.

2) PG&E also has extensive prescriptive incentives, offering rebates for measures such as energy efficient dish and clothes washers, central natural gas furnaces, tankless water heaters, and cool roofs.